Hi CFP members. I'm happy because until I get a computer of my own I'm able to log on from a neighbor's home next to me (it's wonderful).

I need your advice on Tootsie. Please let me know what you think I should do.

I took Tootsie to the Vet because she had preclamsia. They took care of the problem. The Vet told me she could not feed the puppies any more because she could get preclamsia again.

Barbi is being a surrogate mother and she's taking care of the puppies because it's been very difficult for me keeping the puppies in a separate room and Tootsie not finding out, I can't keep them with her because they want to feed and she tried to stop me from taking them away (mother instinct ). I managed. She would hear their whinning and she barked throughout the whole night and cried .

I couldn't feed the puppies on my own after a recent move and not sleeping for 2 nights in a row with Tootsie's emergency. That's why Barbi has them now. I thought it may be better if Tootsie did not hear them (Well, it seems as if she still hears them).

Another Vet told me I could try alternating 2 puppies and letting them feed off her a little while and wait 2 hours before the others fed because they were too little to be taken away. The first Vet said "No" to this! Meantime Barbi, grandma and myself had been feeding the puppies by hand (they seem to be doing well with that). It's been 2 days and Tootsie is still very worried about her puppies . She searches the whole house, sniffs everything in site. I feel very bad about this. Puppies are doing well snuggling to themselves .

I don't want to risk Tootsie getting preclamsia again (but there's two views), the bill was very hi and plus Tootsie is a little mature already I don't want her suffering again . But also (thirdly), I don't want her suffering having her babies taken away so soon (can you imagine!?)

What do you all recommend? Should I alternate, or should I let them continue feeding from the bottles?

Do you think Tootsie may recover? This has never happened to her. I've never been in this position before.

I wish I knew what to tell you, but unfortunatly I have no answer.
I just hope that you get everything
worked out and everyone does alright.
Please keep us posted on how Tootsie and
the pups are doing.

Maria, I WORRY about her milk. The meds that she was on was suppose to mess up her milk. and that still maybe in her milk right?.the Preclamsia, how did that effect her milk. why does the 1st vet say no? is there anything you can give tootsie (like electrolites(that won't hurt the milk but will keep tootsie healthy)? I would love to see the 2 littlest ones stay on mama, but is her milk as nutricious at this point as the formula? I've "supplimented" in addition to mama's milk cuz there were a lot of puppies and this did take some of the strain off mama also on esbilac it tells you to add it to mama's diet. would that help. Ask the both vet's if #1 there's anything in mama's milk RIGHT NOW THAT WOULD HURT THE BABIES #2 WHY THE 1 VET SAID NO, REMEMBER MARIE, AS THE BABIES GET BIGGER SO DOES THE DEMAND ON HER! I WOULD SAY ABSOLUTELY NOT ALL OF THEM! AND THE LITTLEST 2-3 (I would suppliment them anyway Even if they ARE ON MAMA )JUST TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE GETTING what they need. WITH A MARE'S MILK YOU CAN HAVE IT TESTED for the nutritional values, don't know about if it's done for dogs. ALSO HOW old is tootsie, that counts too. I would think that a couple of pups would be a solution if her milk is good(free of infection etc) DON'T REMEMBER IF dogs get mastitis as cows & mares do? it's been many yrs. I would investigate it further!




[This message was edited by Rosemary on January 15, 2004 at 09:55 PM.]

[This message was edited by Rosemary on January 15, 2004 at 10:00 PM.]

Oh My Maria thats a hard bunch of questions, I do think you need to find out if theres anything in Tootsies milk that could hurt the babies, and have her tested, if she is ok then maybe let the two smallest ones feed if not I would leave things as they are, I think Tootsie will be just fine . I thought they gave her meds to dry up her milk?

Maria spoke today with Tootsie's regular Vet, who knows Tootsie's history better then the Vet at the Emergency Clinic. He stated the Potassium does not affect her milk in a negative way for the puppies, and also suggested she give Toosie 1/2 a Thum (sp?) tablet (I guess we learn something new every day) to help with the calcium levels. His suggestion is for Tootsie to feed 2 puppies at a time (maximum) per day and supplement the others with formula. Yvonne, they never did give her anything to dry up the milk. They said it dries up on its own after a couple of days of her not feeding. (I didn't know that either).

Maria is at my house giving the puppies their 6pm formula feeding, but she'll be taking Bravo and Nani home with her this evening. Would you believe Tootsie is still hysterical whining and agitated missing the puppies? Her motherly instincs are very strong. She's going to be so happy to see them.

I'll keep everyone updated.

WAY COOL! iT'S TUMS(for your tummy)with CALCIUM added! Don't you have time to WATCH ALL THE COMMERCIALS THESE DAYS?(just kiddin)

I'm glad to hear that Tootsie can feed a couple of the puppies at a time. I'm sure it makes her feel better having them close
I happy that all is going well!!

Tootsie is happy again. She still sniffs and stares around the house as though she's looking for the others, but she's content to be nursing 2 at a time. Tomorrow Lulu and Nani (the 2 smallest ones) will be with her.

I posted on another thread, That is great news, Tootsie can have at least two pups with her at a time, and I'm sure she misses the others,I;m glad Tootsie is happy and can be with her pups.

Hi Maria. I have been alking to Barbi about this. I had one dog that had it and it scared me to death. I knew when she posted on here about how Tootsie was acting that this is what it was. The dog I had with it, she was allowed to nurse all 5 pups after 2 days. i just fed her lots of calcium enriched foods, cheese, yogurt, etc. I also added dry puppy formula to her dog food, which should always be puppy food while pregnant and nursing. The vet also gave me some calcium shots just in case she needed them. I only had to give them to her once. I would start fixing a thin mush out of rice baby cereal and puppy formula, and start the puppies on that. I also do not see why you can't let 3 pups nurse at once and rotate which ones get to nurse. Also I wanted to tell you how beautiful the pups are!!

Janie and her chis

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